On April 16, about 100 teens - from various youth groups, congregations and schools throughout the community - gathered to celebrate Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) with a picnic and party at the Mayerson JCC.

Along with the Chaverim m'Israel (Friends from Israel), Tomer Flischer and Mor Ninio, they enjoyed a traditional "mangal" cookout with Israeli activities, games, music and sports.

The event also gave students who will travel to Israel this summer a chance to connect with those who did so last summer and who then participated in the first year of Israel HERE, a pre- and post-trip enrichment program for recipients of Israel Travel Grants funded by The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati.

Through Israel HERE, students process their experiences in Israel, strengthen their personal Jewish identity and explore and expand their relationships with the local Jewish community.

The program grew out of a desire to maximize the value of the Foundation's investment in the community by increasing recipients' engagement and thereby encouraging them to eventually become the next generation of leaders and philanthropists.

Sam Levitt and Elise Spiegel, Israel HERE "graduates," spoke at the Independence Day celebration about their experiences in Israel.

Levitt lives in Sycamore Township and attends Sycamore High School.

Spiegel lives in Madeira and attends Indian Hill High School.

Levitt traveled to Israel on a two-month Alexander Muss High School trip.

He said, "I had the most amazing experience on this program. I really fell in love with Israel and came to the conclusion that I would give my life for the country. I gained a newfound sense of nationalism and pride for the state of Israel and the Jewish people?I truly discovered how important it is for all of us to remain strong and stay together because of all that we have suffered and, quite possibly, will suffer."

Levitt continued, "I am so happy the Foundation gave me this opportunity to travel to Israel and so grateful, because I will remember this for the rest of my life. I would highly encourage any teen to take advantage of the very generous opportunity we have in Cincinnati to travel to Israel."

Since 2000, more than 1,400 Jewish young people from Cincinnati have traveled to Israel to develop stronger, more personal connections with Israel and their Jewish heritage. Cincinnati holds the distinction of sending more Jewish youth, per capita, on these Israel programs than any other Jewish community in North America.

"During my trip to Israel, I connected not only with my Jewish identity more, but with my identity as a whole," said Elise Spiegel, who traveled to Israel on the Jewish Federation's JQuest trip. "The fact that I was even given a chance to go means a lot to me, and there are no words to thank the Foundation except for 'thank you.'"

This is the first year for Israel HERE, but, going forward, it will be an ongoing component of the Foundation's Israel Travel Grant Program. In order to make sure future grant recipients will get the most out of their trips, they will all be expected to contribute 25 hours of community service to the Jewish community and attend two pre-trip and six post-trip sessions.

Community Shaliach (emissary from Israel) Yair Cohen, who co-developed the Israel HERE program with Sharon Spiegel, Director of Youth Israel Experiences at the Jewish Federation, said, "This is just as important as the trip to Israel itself. It is a way for participants to invest the passion and understanding they gained in Israel back into their own community. It's a must-have component of any travel to Israel."

"The Israel HERE initiative is a supremely important program," said Dr. Gary P. Zola, executive director of The Jacob Marcus Rader Center of the American Jewish Archives, who led the participants on a bus tour of Jewish Cincinnati in December.

"Typically, American Jews send their young people to Israel where their Jewish identity is strengthened. Yet once back in the U.S., there is little or no follow up.

Israel HERE strives to build on the Jewish excitement that was sparked in Israel, and this is precisely what needs to be done.

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Teens celebrate Israel, thank Jewish Foundation for travel grants

On April 16, about 100 teens ? from various youth groups, congregations and schools throughout the community ? gathered to celebrate Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) with a picnic and party at